With 15 minutes left in the bronze medal match of the 10m air pistol mixed team competition at Chateauroux, India’s coach Munkhbayar Dorjsuren called a time-out. She approached Manu Bhaker, who was struggling to maintain her usual composure after a disappointing shot. The digital scoreboard displayed a score of 8.3, the lowest Manu had scored in the entire Olympics. Her reaction, a forced smile, hid her inner struggle. The pressure was mounting, and her coach knew action was needed.
Shooting is a sport that thrives on confidence, and Manu’s recent slump was a cause for concern. The mixed team event, unlike the individual competition, is a point-based format, where two shooters from each team take turns to shoot, accumulating points to reach a target score of 16. The team with the higher score wins, and the first to 16 points takes the medal.
Manu, who had won the individual 10m pistol event two days prior, had been leading the team alongside her teammate Sarabjot Singh. Despite a strong start, Sarabjot had been struggling, showing a lack of confidence. He had missed the individual final by a narrow margin, and the pressure seemed to be getting to him. Their body language told the story: Manu, brimming with confidence from her previous win, had her hands in her pockets while Sarabjot kept his hands protectively in front of him.
Coach Dorjsuren recognized the need to address Sarabjot’s slump. She massaged his shooting hand and offered words of encouragement, while acknowledging Manu’s strong mental state. The time-out had the desired effect; the Korean team, who had previously been struggling, won the next series. However, Manu responded with a strong 10.6, putting India back in the lead.
The match was far from over. The 8.3 score served as a reminder that even in the Olympics, nothing is guaranteed. Coach Dorjsuren called another time-out, recognizing the immense pressure Manu was under. She, a two-time Olympic medalist, understood the mental toll of a competition of this magnitude.
Dorjsuren communicated with both Manu and Sarabjot, offering words of encouragement and reassurance. She emphasized the importance of staying calm and focused on the process, knowing that a single shot could change the course of the match.
Sarabjot, responding to his coach’s support, shot a 10.5 in the following round, his highest score of the match. Manu, though still struggling, managed a 10. The score was just enough to beat the Koreans and maintain India’s lead.
The Koreans kept pushing, closing the gap to 14-10. Manu shot a 9.4, a low score that could have cost them the match. However, the Koreans also had a bad series, giving Sarabjot a chance to seal the victory. He shot a 10.2, a score that, although not his best, was enough to secure the bronze medal.
The mixed team event highlighted not only Manu’s resilience but also the importance of teamwork. Despite their differences, the two athletes came together to achieve their goal. Manu, the confident shooter, and Sarabjot, the struggling yet determined teammate, proved that a strong team can overcome any obstacle. They made history, becoming the first Indian pair to win a medal in the mixed team event, showcasing the spirit of camaraderie and unwavering determination that defines true sportsmanship.
